Tisei Surprised by Sister's Cocaine Arrest
The congressional candidate's sister was charged with cocaine possession this summer.
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Siblings don't always tell each other everything and often surprise each other, but Republican congressional candidate Richard Tisei wasn't expecting the revelation he got this week.
Tisei's sister, Donna McHale of North Reading, was arrested by Reading Police in August for possession of cocaine. And Tisei says he had no idea about the arrest until this week.
“It was very upsetting news to both my mother and me, to put it mildly," Tisei said in a statement. "I’m not familiar with the circumstances, but spoke with Donna and urged her to be honest and forthcoming and to resolve this situation."
According to a report on Reading Patch, on Aug. 26 just after 8:30 p.m., McHale, 48, was in a car with a man named Richard Verro, 47, of Reading, when Reading Police pulled their car over for a traffic violation and then charged Verro with possession of cocaine and having an open container of alcohol while driving. McHale was charged with possession of cocaine and later released on $140 bail.
Tisei said that his sister did not tell his family about the arrest. He found out about it Tuesday from a reporter and said he is very concerned.
"If she needs help, I want her to get it," Tisei said. "I haven’t lived with my sister since 1981, but want the best for her and for her family.”
Tisei announced his candidacy for Massachusetts' 6th district congressional seat last month. If he wins the Republican primary against Bill Hudak, Tisei will face off against Congressman John Tierney, who is no stranger to family criminal problems.
Melissa Gleaton
10:39 am on Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The fact that this was in a police report, and nobody in the family knew about it, especially since he had just run for Lt. Governor, is shocking to me. I don't know if I buy it.
Bob
12:09 pm on Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The police report was in Reading and he lives in Wakefield. She was released on bail. If they are not close I can see it.
BTW - WHO CARES what his sister did? Why is that even a story? Because he is a Republican in Democrat Massachusetts? I am sure everyone will spend the same amount of time on Tierney's WIFE! Yea, he never knew!
Bill Gilman
2:22 pm on Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Bob, in fairness, there has been huge media coverage of the issues with Congressman Tierney's wife. Tewksbury Patch only recently picked up coverage of this race because of the district shift.
Bob
9:48 am on Thursday, December 8, 2011
Bill, My issue is with your statement "Tewksbury Patch only recently picked up coverage of this race because of the district shift". This "story" has ZERO to do with Tisei and his run for Congress. It is his sister's issue and unless you or others can show where Tisei used his influence to get her a better deal or off completely, it should NOT be reported in reference to him. This is yellow journalism to the max.
Stories like this are why we get the poor choices for candidates that we get. No good person wants to have their family run through the ringer so they stay out. It needs to change or we will be in worse shape in 4 years then we are now.
Finally just FYI - I am unenrolled. I don't have a dog in this fight. I want BOTH parties dissolved as they are Thomas Jefferson's worst nightmare. I just want fairness.
Bill Gilman
2:57 pm on Thursday, December 8, 2011
Fair enough. I can tell you that this story was based off a press release that the Tisai campaign released. In other words, he asked the full media to give him a forum to address the issue because one media outlet (and I'm not sure which one) had approached him with the info.
denise
5:26 pm on Wednesday, December 7, 2011
God knows i would not want to be judged my my sisters decisions!!!
Steevo
6:50 am on Thursday, December 8, 2011
Well I'm out of state and haven't read the huge coverage about his wife but this really is a non-issue and of course this kind of reporting with any inferred relevance isn't confined to Massachusetts. It can easily speak more about the collective mind-set with those in the press: who they want to give an anal exam, cast a negative shadow and why. It's not necessarily newsworthy because they want it to be news and a critical spotlight should be ready and willing to expose each and every one of them. Btw if there was enough of them wanting to link something like this to a Democrat I'd feel the same. The fact is reporters can be some of the most manipulative smear mongers out there.
Steevo
7:05 am on Thursday, December 8, 2011
Just read the story about his wife. That's significant news.
Melissa Gleaton
3:06 pm on Thursday, December 8, 2011
Just to clarify, I don't think it does (or should) have any bearing on his run for office, but it just astounds me that A) hello? people talk and B) there isn't some sort of vetting so these "surprises" don't come out in general. I mean, look at Herman Cain. Like he had NO idea that someone was going to approach him about his "friendship" and "loans" to women who aren't his wife. COME ON.
Patrick Rahilly
11:15 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
I agree Melissa the only part I disagree is the Cain/Tisei comparison. Cain "forgot" his own indiscretions while Tisei just simply didn't know what other family members were doing. They might not be all that close and if one of my family members got arrested for something I am sure it would not be a cookout or Thanksgiving dinner discussion topic.
She has a different last name too, that throws alot of people off. Either way, its a non-story.